Dental hygiene holder

ABSTRACT

The invention is a Dental Hygiene Center. This center is an all in one tooth care center. It includes a plurality of places to store toothbrushes or tongue cleaners etc. It has a location to store a package of floss and it includes a timer that reminds the brusher to brush longer. There is a tooth paste dispensing part built into the unit. A User simply places the bottom of the tube into a groove where it fits into a crank device that rolls up the bottom of the toothpaste tube as the paste is dispensed. The device may have an attachment means such as suction cups that will allow the device to be hung on a surface like a mirror if desired. It can sit on a counter or be mounted by screws onto a wall. It is designed to be an all inclusive dental cleaning center that makes a mess free and economical dispensing of toothpaste.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application relates to and claims the priority date ofProvisional Patent 60/319,559 filed on Sep. 18, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to art of dental hygiene, specifically animprovement for the storage of dental hygiene supplies and animprovement for the dispensing of toothpaste.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] With the public concern so prevalent today about germs, bacteria,and diseases that arise therefrom, there is a growing need for productsthat aid in minimizing their transfer. One area of personal hygiene inwhich germs and bacteria, and their transfer, are very common, is theoral cavity. The oral cavity and, in particular, the tools used incleaning it, such as a toothbrush, are notorious havens fordisease-causing organisms.

[0006] The transfer of germs and bacteria between dental tools ortoothbrushes and the mouth is facilitated by non-sanitary storage ofthese tools between use and/or multiple users of a common area using,then storing their personal hygiene tools or toothbrushes repeatably.Anytime there may be multiple users of an area where personal hygienedevices are stored, such as a toothbrush in a holder, the potential forgerm or bacteria transfer exists. Examples include visiting houseguests, family, or friends, a house full of children with poor sanitaryhabits, and hotel rooms in which a different guest uses the facilityeach day.

[0007] A few U.S. Patents have addressed the storage issue oftoothbrushes, in particular.

[0008] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,487,085 discloses a device forholding a tube of toothpaste and a closure therefore, and a holdingdevice for supporting a plurality of toothbrushes.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,155 discloses a sanitary disposable holderfor oral hygiene devices, such as toothbrushes.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,002,630 discloses a sanitary, disposable,toothbrush rack.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,519 discloses a removable toothbrush holderhaving a rear, T-shaped projection which fits into a permanent holder ofsomewhat C-shape for slid ably supporting the projection.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,943 discloses a Toothbrush holder Which is adisposable holder comprising: a first member and a second member,wherein the first member is a disposable carrier comprising asubstantially horizontal carrier plate hand the second member is amounting bracket

[0013] There does, however, remain a need for safe (i.e., no sharpcorners, tilt prevention, etc.), sanitary, easily constructed,toothbrush and dental supply holder that allows a variety of mountingpossibilities for the dispensing of tooth paste and to serve as anorganizer for all the items necessary for oral hygiene.

[0014] There is still room for improvement within the art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0015] It is the object of this invention to provide an all inclusivedental cleaning center that makes a mess free for dispensing of toothpaste, an organizer for all the items necessary for oral hygiene andeconomical dispensing of toothpaste.

[0016] []OLE_LINK1 The current device is a Dental Hygiene Center is anall in one tooth care center. In the preferred embodiment, it includes 4places to store toothbrushes or tongue cleaners etc. It has a place tokeep one package of floss and it includes a 3 minute sand timer thatreminds the brusher to brush longer. There is a tooth paste dispensingpart built into the unit. A User simply places the bottom of the tubeinto a groove where it fits into a crank device that rolls up the bottomof the toothpaste tube as the paste is dispensed. It can have anattaching means such as suction cups that will allow the device to behung on a surface such as a wall or a mirror if desired. It can sit on acounter or be mounted by screws onto a wall.

[0017] ]The current invention provides an all inclusive dental cleaningcenter that makes a mess free and economical dispensing of toothpaste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is front perspective view of the device;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the device;

[0020]FIG. 3 is top view of the device;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a back view of the device;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a front view of the device;

[0023]FIG. 6 displays a front view of the device being used; and

[0024]FIG. 7 displays the cranking means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The preferred embodiment of the invention is described below.

[0026] The current device is a Dental Hygiene Center, which is an all inone tooth care center. In the preferred embodiment, it includes aplurality of holders to store toothbrushes or tongue cleaners etc. Ithas a storage area for dental floss and includes a timing means thatreminds the brusher to brush longer. There is a tooth paste dispensingpart built into the device. A User simply places the bottom of the tubeinto a groove where it fits into a crank device that rolls up the bottomof the toothpaste tube as the paste is dispensed. It can have anattaching means such as suction cups that will allow the device to behung on a surface such as a wall or a mirror if desired. It can sit on acounter or be mounted by screws onto a wall.

[0027] The device 1 and the components thereof may be constructed of anymaterial having sufficient strength to support the selected hygienetool, such as stainless steel, aluminum, thermoplastic, or Teflon.R™.Preferably, the device 1 is constructed of thermoplastic

[0028]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the device 1. Referring toFIGS. 1 -5, the device 1 in the preferred embodiment has a basicrectangle shape with a bottom 2, a left side 4, a front side 6, a rightside 8, a ridge 10, a back side 12, a toothpaste holder 14, a timingmeans 16 and a floss holder area 18.

[0029] The bottom 2 is in a basic rectangular shape and in the preferredembodiment is made of the bottom edges of the front 6, right 8, left 4,and back 12 sides. The device 1 can be placed on a surface on the bottom2. The bottom 2 can be coated with or have a material attached, such asa rubber or polymer, to act as a cushioning and skid-free means. In thepreferred embodiment, the bottom 2 has a dimension of 6″ wide by 4″which gives the device 1 a secure footing.

[0030] The left side 4 in the preferred embodiment is in an L-shapeformed by the ridge 10 and the floss holder 18 area.

[0031] The front side 6 is in a rectangular shape with the toothpasteholder 14 midway on the top.

[0032] The right side 8 in the preferred embodiment is in a reversedL-shape formed by the ridge 10 and the timing means 16 area.

[0033] The ridge 10 is in the back of the device 1. It has a pluralityof dental device openings 20. These dental device openings 20 arecircular in nature and are used to hold dental devices 5 such astoothbrushes and tongue cleaners, see FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

[0034] The dental device openings 20 open to a cylinder chamber 22 tohold the dental devices 5 upright. The cylinder chamber 22 runsperpendicular to the device 1with a bottom on the opposite side of thecylinder chamber 22 as the dental device opening 20. The cylinderchamber 22 has a cylinder chamber drainage hole 24 at the bottom. Thiscylinder chamber drainage hole 24 allows any liquids that may run off ofthe dental device 5 to drain to remove any possibility of stagnate waterwhich can be a health risk while being small enough to prevent thedental device 5 from fitting in the drainage hole 24. In the preferredembodiment the dental device openings 20 are evenly spaced across theridge 10. In the preferred embodiment, there are four dental deviceopenings 20. In the preferred embodiment, the ridge 10 is one inch wideand three inches high. The dental device openings 20 are ½″ in diameterwith the drainage hole 24 being ⅛″ in diameter. In the preferredembodiment, the inner dental device openings 20 are larger in diameterto accommodate larger handled brushes and power brushes.

[0035]FIG. 4 shows the back side 12, which may be mounted to a mountingsurface in any way sufficient to support the combined weight of theholder 1 and what is held by the holder, such as with, but not limitedto, various fasteners, screws, bolts, nails, adhesives, and VELCRO.™.The back side 12 optionally contains at least one aperture 30 forreceiving a screw such that the back side 12 may be threadingly attachedto a mounting surface. The back 12 optionally includes a pressuresensitive adhesive coating for aid in mounting to a mounting surface. Ifpresent, the pressure sensitive adhesive coating may contain an optionalprotective liner.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, in the preferred embodiment thetoothpaste holder 14 is at the top, middle front of the device 1. Thetoothpaste holder 14 is being shown in use in FIG. 6. The toothpasteholder 14 is in the shape of a V with the top edges even with andrunning perpendicular to the ridge 10 from the ridge to the front side6. The toothpaste holder 14 has a left sloped side 38 and a right slopedside 40. At the bottom of the V there is a slot 42 that runs the wholelength of the V. The toothpaste tube 32 is placed into and through theslot 42. The end of the toothpaste tube 32 is placed into a crank means44 and is secured through a securing means 46. The securing means 46 canbe a forked bar in which the folded end of the toothpaste tube 32 beingplaced of one end of the folk with the rest of the toothpaste tube 32being placed on the other. Cranking means are well known in theindustry. In the preferred embodiment, the device 1 will use a simplehand crank. In the alternative, a cranking means 44 that is driven by anelectronic motor attached to a toggle switch could be used. In thealternative, a compressing means can be used, such as two rollers inwhich the toothpaste tube 32 is pulled through compressing the tubeforcing toothpaste out of the tube 32. This is displayed in FIG. 7.

[0037] After the toothpaste tube 32 is attached to the cranking means 44and secured using the securing means 46. When the cranking means 44 isturned the toothpaste tube 32 is forced in the direction of the crankingmeans 44. This will force the toothpaste tube 32 against the slopedsides 38 and 40 applying pressure to the toothpaste tube 32 resulting intoothpaste coming out of the toothpaste tube 32. This results in all ofthe toothpaste in the toothpaste tube 32 being used.

[0038] The timing means 16 is at the top of the device 1. In thepreferred embodiment this well is to the right of the toothpaste holder14. The timing means 16 is in the timing means area which is a shelfarea 2″ high from the bottom. The timing means 16 is used to inform thebrusher that they have brushed their teeth long enough promoting goodoral hygiene. In the preferred embodiment, the timing means 16 is athree minute hour glass that is stored on the timing means area. Thetiming means area having an indentation 48 for the timing mean 16 to bestored in. This indentation 48 will have a drainage hole 24. In thealternative, another type of timing means 16 could be used such as anelectronic stopwatch or a electronic timing with flashing lights andspeakers for younger children.

[0039] The floss holder 18 is a well 50 that is in the top of the device1. In the preferred embodiment this well is to the left of thetoothpaste holder 14. The well 50 is in the floss holder area which is ashelf area 2″ high from the bottom.

[0040] The well 50 is 1½″ deep with a width and length slightly largerthan that of a standard size dental gloss container. The well 50 have aplurality of drainage holes 24.

[0041] The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limitedin scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since theseembodiments are intended solely as illustrations of several aspects ofthe invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within thescope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the inventionin addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Suchmodifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

[0042] Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

[0043] With the need to have an all inclusive dental cleaning centerthat makes a mess free and economical dispensing of toothpaste, thecurrent invention helps users do that. The device provides a mess freeand economical dispensing means for dispensing of tooth paste andserving as an organizer for all the items necessary for oral hygiene.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described in considerabledetail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, otherversions are possible. For example, the base could be of differentdimension, a different material could be used to make it, the componentscould be located differently on the device or another timer means can beused. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims should notbe limited to the description of the preferred versions containedherein.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A dental hygiene device comprising: abottom, a left side, a front side, a right side, a ridge, a back side, atoothpaste holder, a timing means and a floss holder area.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1 in which said toothpaste holder has a crankingmeans and securing means.
 3. The device according to claim 1 in whichsaid toothpaste holder has a compressing means.
 4. The device accordingto claim 1 in which said ridge has a plurality of dental deviceopenings.
 5. The device according to claim 1 in which said ridge has aplurality of dental device openings in which each said dental deviceopening opens to a chamber.
 6. The device according to claim 1 in whichsaid ridge has a plurality of dental device openings in which each saiddental device opening opens to a chamber with said chamber perpendicularto the top.
 7. The device according to claim 1 in which said ridge has aplurality of dental device openings in which each said dental deviceopening opens to a chamber with said chamber having a drainage hole. 8.The device according to claim 1 in which said toothpaste holder has acranking means and securing means in which said cranking means is a handcrank.
 9. The device according to claim 1 in which said toothpasteholder has a cranking means and securing means in which said crankingmeans is an electronic motor.
 10. The device according to claim 1 inwhich said toothpaste holder has a compressing means and securing meansin which said compressing means is two rollers.
 11. The device accordingto claim 1 in which said back has a mounting means.
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 1 in which said bottom has a skid resistance means.13. The device according to claim 1 in which said back has a mountingmeans comprising of a plurality of apertures.
 14. The device accordingto claim 1 in which said back has a mounting means comprising of apressure sensitive adhesive coating.
 15. The device according to claim 1in which said timing means is an hour glass.
 16. The device according toclaim 1 in which said timing means is a stopwatch.
 17. The deviceaccording to claim 1 in which said timing means is an electronic timer.18. The device according to claim 1 in which said timing means is anelectronic timer with flashing lights.
 19. The device according to claim1 in which said timing means is an electronic timer with a speaker. 20.A dental hygiene device comprising: a bottom, a left side, a front side,a right side, a ridge, a back side, a toothpaste holder, a timing meansand a floss holder area, in which said toothpaste holder has a crankingmeans and securing means, in which said ridge has a plurality of dentaldevice openings, in which each said dental device opening opens to achamber with said chamber having a drainage hole, in which said back hasa mounting means.